Ball-caster.



N0. 653,38l. Patented July l0, I900. W. P. FINK. BALL EASTER(Application filed Mar. 6, 1900.)

(No Iodel.)

I, fl 2| NITED. STATES WILLIAM P. FINK, or OAPERTON, wEsT VIRGINIA.

BALL-CASTER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 653,381, dated July 10,1900.

Application filed March 6 1900. Serial No. 7 ,584=. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. FINK, a citizen of the United States,residingat Oaperton, in the county of Fayette and State of estVirginia,have invented a new and useful Ball- Bearing Caster, of whichthe following'is a specification. I

The invention relates to improvements in ball-bearing casters.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofball-bearing casters and to provide a simple and comparativelyinexpensive one possessing great strength and durability and adapted toreduce the friction to a minimum and capable of being advantageouslyemployed on heavy safes and analogous articles.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a ball-bearing casterconstructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view,the caster being inverted. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. atis a reverse plan view of the body of the caster.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the draw- Ings.

1 designates the body of the caster, consisting of a horizontalpolygonal plate provided at its lower face with depending approximatelysector-shaped lugs or enlargements 2, having parallel contiguous facesand spaced apart to form recesses for the reception of ball-shapedrollers 3, which are provided at opposite sides with journals 4,arranged in suitable bearings. The lugs or enlargements are detachablysecured to the body by means of bolts or other suitable fasteningdevices to enable the ball-shaped rollers to be readily assembled, andthe polygonal body 1 is provided above the balls with openings 5, intowhich the ball-shaped rollers project, to enable the parts to becompactly arranged.

Any desired number of ball-shaped rollers may be employed, andthey arearranged in a series around the upper portion of a large ball 6, whichrests upon the floor or other supporting-surface and which fits againstthe ball-shaped rollers, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Thelarge main ball, which is arranged within a cage 7, is adapted to revolve freely when the caster is moved over the floor or othersupporting-surface, and it will be clear that the friction is reduced toa minimum. The ball-shaped rollers present convex bearing-faces to theball 6 and are preferably provided at their opposite sides, adjacent tothe lugs 4, with fiat faces surrounding the journals. I

The cage, which is circular and tapering, as clearly illustrated inFigs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, is composed of upper and lower rings 8and 9 and connecting-braces 10 and 10, secured at their upper ends tothe lower faces of the lugs 2 and provided with eyes 11 and 12, throughwhich the upper and lower rings pass. This cage, which surrounds themain ball, clears the same when the caster is in use, and it will retainthe ball in position should the caster be raised from the floor orremoved for any purpose. The braces 10 have their upper ends fitted insockets 20, formed in the adjacent lugs, as clearly indicated in Fig. 4:of the accompanying drawings, and the said braces 10 are retained in thesockets bythe braces 10, which are secured to the contiguous lugs. Thebraces 1O are provided at their upper ends with eyes 22, through whichpass fastening devices 21, which also engage the lugs.

The polygonal body is provided at its upper face with a central pivot13, consisting of a circular enlargement and arranged in a circularopening of a corner-plate 14, provided with an angular portion 15 andhaving vertical flanges extending upward therefrom. The vertical flanges16, which are arranged at the angular extension, as clearly shown inFig. 1, are adapted to fit the corner of a safe or a heavy piece offurniture or analogous object, and the corner-plate may be secured tothe same in any suitable manner.

In order to reduce thefriction to a minimum and enable the body to turnfreely independently of the ball and the corner-plate, the latter andthe body are provided at their adjacent faces with annular grooves 17and 18, forming a circular ball-race and receiving an annular series ofantifriction-balls 19, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

It will be seen that the ball-bearing caster is simple and comparativelyinexpensive in construction, that it possesses great strength anddurability, and that it reduces the friction to a minimum and isespecially adapted for use on safes and other heavy articles. It willalso be apparent that the large ball which rests upon the floor or othersupporting-surface is adapted to rotate freely in any direction, andthat the body which carries the ballshaped rollers is also capable ofrotating on the corner-plate. Furthermore, it will be apparent that asthe ball-shaped rollers are permanently journaled in the blocks or lugsof the body they will not become displaced and do not depend on the ballto maintain them in proper position, and the said ball is permitted agreater amount of movement relative to the ball-shaped rollers toaccommodate itself to the same than could be the case were the rollersmounted in open bearings. The ball will adjust itself to the ball-shapedrollers and will provide an even frictionless bearing at all times.

What is claimed is- 1. Aball-bearing castercomprising abody, detachablelugs mounted on the body and having bearings, rollers having journalsarranged in the bearings, a large ball fitting against the rollers, acage spaced from the rollers and from the large ball and interlockedwith the lugs, and fastening devices retaining the cage in engagementwith the lugs, substantially as described.

2. Aball-bearin g caster comprising a body, a plate pivoted to the body,lugs arranged at the lower face of the body and provided with bearings,rollers journaled in the bearings, a large ball, and a depending cageprovided with upper and lower rings and having braces 10 and 1O"connecting the rings, the upper ends of the braces 10 fitting in sockets of the adjacent lugs, and the other braces 10 being provided witheyes and secured to the log by fastening devices passing through theeyes, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own Ihave hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM P. FINK.

Witnesses:

B. E. BARE, B. F. SELBE.

